User Experience; you need a product before you can have an experience, right? So as a founder, I don’t need to worry about it until later. WRONG! Your user experience work starts day one and helps make your product great through every stage of your company’s development. I’ve partnered with the great folks at LUXr.co to host our next FailChat on May 9th, where we’ll be exploring the most common UX mistakes founders make, and how you can avoid them. Space is very limited, so be sure to secure a spot at http://failchatux.eventbrite.com – look forward to seeing you there!
-=Cass Phillipps=-
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15% Off The 10th Founder ShowcaseApril 24th, 1:00pm – 8:00pmMission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco
The Founder Showcase is the premier seed-stage startup pitch and networking event, gathering over 500 founders, investors and press to hear talks from prominent CEOs and help launch a promising company to greatness. Guests will be treated to talks from leading startup CEOs (TBA), as well as an entertaining Pitch Competition featuring 8 promising seed-stage companies. Appetizers and drinks will also be served in a networking hall full of other hot startups demoing their wares in the Demo Table Competition. We are expecting over 150 startup investors in attendance, so purchase your tickets today. Web Wallflower readers get a 15% discount by using the code web_wallflower. For more information go to www.FounderShowcase.com

15% off DevCon5, HTML5 and Mobile App Developer ConferenceApril 25 – 26th, 9:00a – 5:00pNetwork Meeting Center, 5201 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
For web developers, designers, architects as well as technology leaders and business strategists on how to use HTML5 to create dynamic user experiences and new mobile business models while exploiting the power of this new language. The conference is a three track program comprised of a Gaming/Mobile Track, User Interface Track, and an Animation Track. Register at http://goo.gl/fWyUN/ and use discount code TCHV to receive a 15% discount. Cost: $395 Early Bird, $595 Regular, $795 onsite

20% off Products Are HardMay 1, 8:00a – 5:00p
Whitcomb Ballroom, San Francisco
Come together for a one-day, one-track event to share the sorrows and joys of making good products with other product managers, engineers, and designers from companies big and small and industries technical and analog. The focus is on the craft of product creation rather than any particular industry esoterica. Sessions will be a combination of individual speakers and head-to-head moderated discussions with plenty of time for side discussions and collaborations. Learn more and get 20% off at http://productsarehard.eventbrite.com/?discount=WebWallflower15% off – Vator Spark: Got Game? How to Gamify Your Start-upMay 1, 8:30am – 6:00pm
Berkeley Skydeck, Penthouse @ 2150 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Vator is introducing Vator Spark, a series of master classes on innovative and disruptive topics relevant to succeeding as a technology entrepreneur. If you’re not incorporating gamification into your business processes, you’re not fully engaging today’s consumers. Consumers are playful and want to be recognized. Give them a goal – and you’ll tap into their loyalty. Use the discount code “webwallflower” for 15% off your ticket at http://vatorspark.eventbrite.com/

20% off CorporatePlayMay 3, 1:00 – 7:00pm
Plug and Play Sunnyvale (440 N. Wolfe Rd.)CorporatePlay will feature Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco, Adobe, Alacatel-Lucent, Huawei, Paypal, Johnson & Johnson, and Vodafone to learn how they innovate and remain entrepreneurial in a constantly evolving marketplace. At the event, corporations will discuss how they work with startups to fill technology gaps through partnerships, licensing, strategic investment, and acquisition. More information at www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/corporateplay and use code MP20 for 20% off!

$5 off Ballmer Peak-a-ThonMay 5th, 4:00 – 10:00pmPariSoma Innovation Loft (169 11th Street)
Join 100 hackers, engineers, and designers at PariSoma for Originate’s ‘business guy free’ party for engineers. The Ballmer Peak-a-thon is what would result if a meetup collided with a hackathon. It’s a 5 hour open bar hacking party for fart apps. You won’t build a business, you might need a lift home, and you just might find the Ballmer Peak! Use code NotaWallFlowerWithBeer for $5 off at www.ballmerpeakathon.com.FailChat: UX Comes First!May 9th, 6:30 – 9:00pmSan Francisco (Precise Location TBD)
User Experience. We’ll worry about that once we have a product, right?” NO, DON’T DO IT! Don’t wait! Join User Experience expert Kate Rutter of LUXr, as she shares common mistakes made by founders in the early stages of product design. She’s joined by Ellen Dunne (Lumatic), Jesse Martinez & Edwardo Martinez (Giggo) and Christine Egy Rose & Patty Chang (Scoot & Doodle), all early-stage entrepreneurs who will share how they experimented, failed, learned, tried again, learned more, improved and won. You’ll get the whole inside scoop on what worked, what sucked, and the lessons they learned along the way. Beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers are provided throughout the seminar. Reserve your spot at http://failchatux.eventbrite.com

$300 off – Mobile Gaming USA 2012May 9-10, 9:00a – 5:00pHotel Kabuki, San Francisco
Mobile Gaming USA 2012 is a conference with an exclusive focus on the fast-growing smartphone and tablet gaming business. Learn from leaders at companies like GameStop, Gamevil, Atari, Digital Chocolate, Fun Sockets, Playmatics and many others, discussing significant topics such as cross-platform development, PR opportunities and challenges, HTML5 for mobile games, globalization, and much more! Check out the sessions,speakers, Hotel Kabuki venue, registration information and more at http://www.mobilegamingusa.com. Save $300 off on conference passes when using the code “WWF2012”.

10% off User Experience for Lean Startups WorkshopMay 14, 9:00a – 5:00pLuxr Studio (3435 Cesar Chavez, SF)
User Experience is one of the most challenging and least understood aspects of creating a product…and yet it will make or break your product. Join the LUXr team to learn Lean Startup methods that help you both make the right product, and make your product right. This 1-day workshop covers Lean UX basics, Customer Development interviews and generative research, developing product and interface ideas, and Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation, and all through hands-on experience. Use Discount Code “WEBWALLFLOWER” when registering at http://lux4leanstartups3.eventbrite.com/

SAN FRANCISCO EVENTS:

15% Off The 10th Founder ShowcaseApril 24th, 1:00pm – 8:00pmMission Bay Conference Center, San Francisco
The Founder Showcase is the premier seed-stage startup pitch and networking event, gathering over 500 founders, investors and press to hear talks from prominent CEOs and help launch a promising company to greatness. Guests will be treated to talks from leading startup CEOs (TBA), as well as an entertaining Pitch Competition featuring 8 promising seed-stage companies. Appetizers and drinks will also be served in a networking hall full of other hot startups demoing their wares in the Demo Table Competition. We are expecting over 150 startup investors in attendance, so purchase your tickets today. Web Wallflower readers get a 15% discount by using the code web_wallflower. For more information go to www.FounderShowcase.com.

Innovation Panel: From Product to MonetizationApril 24, 6:30 – 8:30p
RocketSpace, 181 Fremont Street
You have developed a fantastic technology, now you need to answer the million dollar question: how do you transform that product into something more? Shayndai Raice, Social Media and Tech Reporter for the Wall Street Journal will engage in a conversation with five Silicon Valley movers and shakers on taking a technology from product to monetization. Clara Shih, CEO of Hearsay Social, Garth Holsinger, VP of Sales and Business Development at Klout, Jerry Clarno, VP of Major Accounts at Box, Jeff Cavins, Founder and CEO of Fuzebox and Erik Kostlenik, VP of Sales and Monetization at Identified.com will discuss, and answer your questions, on how to strategically develop a sales and hiring strategy that drives real revenue. More info at http://innovationpanel-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1

The Future of Mobile and Social GamingApril 26, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
pariSoma Innovation Loft
Games are rapidly changing the face of mobile and social networks and how we interact with one another. Where do the opportunities lie in 2012? Who’s innovating? What are the next big breakthroughs that will radically alter gaming, monetization and user engagement on your phone and the web? These are a few of the questions we’re going to answer as we go deep on the latest trends in mobile and social gaming. Learn more at http://foundersspacesfapril2012.eventbrite.com/

Designers + Geeks Speaker SeriesApril 26, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Yelp (706 Mission St)
“Clarity” is a survey of the astonishing boundaries of design & technology. What is the polar opposite of minimalism? What does Picasso have in common with Jeff Bezos? Who’s right in the design war between Apple and Samsung? Kevin Lawler is an entrepreneur and iOS app builder. His apps have appeared in six Apple commercials. Before coming to California he worked on the search team at Etsy. $5 off for 5 folks: http://designers-geeks-speakers-april2012.eventbrite.com/?discount=FIVER

Spring Fashion Show and Startup GalaApril 27th, 7:00p – 12:00a
Fairmont San Francisco
The historic Fairmont Hotel welcomes you to an evening of technology and Fashion. A celebration of our time featuring the best of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The evening will begin with Startup Pitches, followed by a glamorous fashion show and a monumental party. A fashion and startup networking event at its core, the evening highlights will include Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, raffle, live art, photo shoot, very valuable goodie bags, music, a phenomenal view of San Francisco and the company of men and women leading the world of technology and fashion. You are cordially invited to join this celebration. More info at http://fashionfor.eventbrite.com/

20% off Products Are HardMay 1, 8:00a – 5:00p
Whitcomb Ballroom, San Francisco
Come together for a one-day, one-track event to share the sorrows and joys of making good products with other product managers, engineers, and designers from companies big and small and industries technical and analog. The focus is on the craft of product creation rather than any particular industry esoterica. Sessions will be a combination of individual speakers and head-to-head moderated discussions with plenty of time for side discussions and collaborations. Learn more and get 20% off at http://productsarehard.eventbrite.com/?discount=WebWallflower$5 off Ballmer Peak-a-ThonMay 5th, 4:00 – 10:00pmPariSoma Innovation Loft (169 11th Street)
Join 100 hackers, engineers, and designers at PariSoma for Originate’s ‘business guy free’ party for engineers. The Ballmer Peak-a-thon is what would result if a meetup collided with a hackathon. It’s a 5 hour open bar hacking party for fart apps. You won’t build a business, you might need a lift home, and you just might find the Ballmer Peak! Use code NotaWallFlowerWithBeer for $5 off at www.ballmerpeakathon.com.

FailChat: UX Comes First!May 9th, 6:30 – 9:00pmSan Francisco (Precise Location TBD)
User Experience. We’ll worry about that once we have a product, right?” NO, DON’T DO IT! Don’t wait! Join User Experience expert Kate Rutter of LUXr, as she shares common mistakes made by founders in the early stages of product design. She’s joined by Ellen Dunne (Lumatic), Jesse Martinez & Edwardo Martinez (Giggo) and Christine Egy Rose & Patty Chang (Scoot & Doodle), all early-stage entrepreneurs who will share how they experimented, failed, learned, tried again, learned more, improved and won. You’ll get the whole inside scoop on what worked, what sucked, and the lessons they learned along the way. Beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers are provided throughout the seminar. Reserve your spot at http://failchatux.eventbrite.com

Startup.SynergyMay 9th, 10:30a – 6:15pMoscone West, San Francisco
Just as the Citrix Startup Accelerator is a new investment vehicle for certain startups, Startup.Synergy is a new component and audience for the larger Citrix conference. If you are interested in the companies Citrix is investing in and acquiring, or if you have an early-stage, enterprise focussed startup, this event has been designed for you. The day will include demos from our portfolio, an investor panel discussion lead by Venturebeat, and $100,000 awarded to a new investment. Please use code 150WEDF for our most discounted rate. Learn more at http://www.citrixsynergy.com/sanfrancisco/hot_topics/startup-synergy.html

$300 off – Mobile Gaming USA 2012May 9-10, 9:00a – 5:00pHotel Kabuki, San Francisco
Mobile Gaming USA 2012 is a conference with an exclusive focus on the fast-growing smartphone and tablet gaming business. Learn from leaders at companies like GameStop, Gamevil, Atari, Digital Chocolate, Fun Sockets, Playmatics and many others, discussing significant topics such as cross-platform development, PR opportunities and challenges, HTML5 for mobile games, globalization, and much more! Check out the sessions,speakers, Hotel Kabuki venue, registration information and more at http://www.mobilegamingusa.com. Save $300 off on conference passes when using the code “WWF2012”.

10% off User Experience for Lean Startups WorkshopMay 14, 9:00a – 5:00pLuxr Studio (3435 Cesar Chavez, SF)
User Experience is one of the most challenging and least understood aspects of creating a product…and yet it will make or break your product. Join the LUXr team to learn Lean Startup methods that help you both make the right product, and make your product right. This 1-day workshop covers Lean UX basics, Customer Development interviews and generative research, developing product and interface ideas, and Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation, and all through hands-on experience. Use Discount Code “WEBWALLFLOWER” when registering at http://lux4leanstartups3.eventbrite.com/

PushUpCharityMay 17th, 6:00 – 9:00pmMinna Gallery
Come cheer on your favorite startup as they sweat it out on stage in a pushup relay. Join GitHub, Zaarly, 99Designs, Udemy and HotelTonight as they race for the charity of their choice – first team to 100 pushups wins. Sponsor a team now and help us raise $10,000 for charity, or reserve one of just 200 tickets to attend at http://pushupcharity.org/

FounderDatingMay 17th, 7:00p – 9:00pDowntown San Francisco
FounderDating aims to bring together super talented entrepreneurs with different backgrounds and skill sets to start innovative new companies. FounderDating is for those who are truly committed or ready to commit to starting a company full-time or a very meaningful part-time project to work on. Members are carefully screened for quality and readiness (no recruiters, etc.) Applications and members’ identities are confidential. The network is balanced – 50% engineering & 50% non-engineering. The event is just the beginning. FD is also an invite-only online network of entrepreneurs looking for co-founders around the country you’ll become a part of. Apply at FounderDating.com

Inaugural Forum on EntrepreneurshipMay 18, 4:00pm – 7:00pm
536 Mission St.
What is the current status of entrepreneurship in the Bay Area and what does it take to succeed? Come join the entrepreneurial, educational and civic communities for a series of short pitches from high potential start-ups, words of wisdom from leading investor and entrepreneur panelists and plenty of networking opportunities. Pitch your company, get your questions answered, meet investors and learn about the resources available to entrepreneurs. Learn more at this free seminar at http://gguentrepreneur.eventbrite.com

BAY AREA EVENTS:

App Developer Privacy SummitApril 25th, 9:00 – 5:00pm
Stanford Law School Center for Internet & Society
Mobile apps and the services they provide have been one of the most exciting areas of innovation in recent years. While they enable consumers to use data to connect, discover and accomplish in new ways, the collection and use of consumer data in the complex mobile environment has caused a rise in privacy concerns. To better understand their respective roles in this new ecosystem, platforms, app developers, carriers, consumers and policymakers are gathering to address current and pressing consumer privacy issues. Learn more at http://appdevsummit.eventbrite.com/

15% off DevCon5, HTML5 and Mobile App Developer ConferenceApril 25 – 26th, 9:00a – 5:00pNetwork Meeting Center, 5201 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
For web developers, designers, architects as well as technology leaders and business strategists on how to use HTML5 to create dynamic user experiences and new mobile business models while exploiting the power of this new language. The conference is a three track program comprised of a Gaming/Mobile Track, User Interface Track, and an Animation Track. Register at http://goo.gl/fWyUN/ and use discount code TCHV to receive a 15% discount. Cost: $395 Early Bird, $595 Regular, $795 onsite

They Hybrid Factory – Meaningful ConversationsApril 25, 5:00 – 6:30pmMozilla Headquarters: Mountain View, CA
The Hybrid Factory is a series of Workshops designed to promote the cross-pollination of UX’ers, Engineers, and Product/Business Strategists. Join us for our upcoming seminar, Meaningful Conversations. In the user experience, content is our side of the conversation with people. It’s also the most tangible touch point for the brands and products we’re designing. Content strategy helps set the tone for the experience and the direction of the brand. The Hybrid Factory invites you to join Ann Bishop to come find out why “content is [still] king” and how you can affect greater impact in designing with content strategy. Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2837209169

Under the Radar: Consumerization of ITApril 25-26, 2012, 8:00a-5:00pMicrosoft Campus, Mountain View
Under the Radar Conference is Silicon Valley’s most effective innovation showcase and business development conference. Leading decision makers are brought together with pre-vetted startups that are disrupting the way traditional business is run. Through an intense vetting process, Dealmaker Media selects a handful of the industry’s most compelling emerging startups to present to experts and CXOs looking to partner, buy or acquire new technologies. Connect with over 300 executives from leading brands and businesses, learn about the latest technology that’s disrupting the way business is done and hear where buyers of technology are placing their bets. Learn more at http://undertheradarcloud2012.eventbrite.com/ and use code “WWF” for $75 off.US-India Business SummitApril 26-27th
Rosewood hotel, Menlo Park.
The summit aims to promote business, partnership, and investment between the United States and India – bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, politicians, and business leaders from across the globe – all of whom are invested in the U.S.-India partnership and growth story. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Mr. Sanjay Jha, CEO, Motorola Mobility; Vinod Khosla, Founder of Sun Microsystems, Ambassador Frank Wisner, Foreign Affairs Advisor, Patton Boggs; Mr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister of India; and Mr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India. More information at www.usibc.com

Top 10 Questions Founders Should be Asking InvestorsApril 27, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Orrick Law Firm, Menlo Park
In order to develop key relationships with the investment community, founders must be prepared to answer plenty of hard questions. However, the founder-investor relationship is hardly one-sided. Founders looking for a financing partner must develop the analytical skills to help them judge which relationships make the most sense for their startup. In this month’s meeting you’ll receive insight from top investors about the type of questions you should be asking as you advance your business. Learn more at http://foundersspacesvapril2012.eventbrite.com/

15% off – Vator Spark: Got Game? How to Gamify Your Start-upMay 1, 8:30am – 6:00pm
Berkeley Skydeck, Penthouse @ 2150 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Vator is introducing Vator Spark, a series of master classes on innovative and disruptive topics relevant to succeeding as a technology entrepreneur. If you’re not incorporating gamification into your business processes, you’re not fully engaging today’s consumers. Consumers are playful and want to be recognized. Give them a goal – and you’ll tap into their loyalty. Use the discount code “webwallflower” for 15% off your ticket at http://vatorspark.eventbrite.com/

EUREKA! Innovation in BerkeleyMay 2, 5:30p – 8:30pHotel Shattuck Plaza, Berkeley
EUREKA! is a mentoring and educational program for entrepreneurs and investors in Berkeley. You are cordially invited to attend the inaugural EUREKA! event on May 2, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley. The program will feature six early stage ventures with high-growth potential that have raised $50K-$250K in seed capital and derive from Berkeley’s innovative environment. EUREKA! is being launched in partnership with the Keiretsu Forum Angel Investment Network and the City of Berkeley Office of Economic Development. For more information visit http://www.eureka-berkeley.com

VC TaskForce Elevator PitchMay 2nd, 6:00 – 8:30pm
Pillsbury Law Firm (2475 Hanover St.), Palo Alto
The Elevator Pitch RoundtablePLUS is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to network with Investors and other CXOs, present their company and ideas, receive valuable communication tips, and learn first-hand how to raise early-stage capital in today’s market. As a special bonus, during a 5:00-6:00pm pre-session, all registrants are invited to meet as a group with a Pillsbury Law Partner to discuss pragmatic business legal matters relevant to entrepreneurs (e.g., organizing the tech start-up & stock options, the funding process & legal issues, IP, financing & structuring alliances, and considerations for M&A or going public). Learn more at http://vctaskforce.com/content/view/947/

20% off CorporatePlayMay 3, 1:00 – 7:00pm
Plug and Play Sunnyvale (440 N. Wolfe Rd.)CorporatePlay will feature Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco, Adobe, Alacatel-Lucent, Huawei, Paypal, Johnson & Johnson, and Vodafone to learn how they innovate and remain entrepreneurial in a constantly evolving marketplace. At the event, corporations will discuss how they work with startups to fill technology gaps through partnerships, licensing, strategic investment, and acquisition. More information at www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/corporateplay and use code MP20 for 20% off!

Getting your Startup Up & RunningMay 9th, 6:00 – 8:30pm
Cooley LLP (3175 Hanover St.) Palo Alto
How do you get “your” startup up and running in this new cloud centric climate? You Partner, Partner, Partner with all the key segments. This includes Banking, Marketing, HR, Accounting and Legal. We bring together an experienced group of critical service providers to share their knowledge on what it takes to build a viable company in the current climate, and what advice can be gleaned from past experience? Learn more at http://www.svforum.org/main-event

SVForum Health Tech ConferenceMay 16th, 8:00am – 3:30pm
Sobrato Center for Non-Profits, Redwood City
Join us as we bring together healthcare, technology, government and communication leaders to discuss opportunities and challenges in the growing field of mobile and information technologies for health. Engage with entrepreneurs and the venture community who are fundamentally transforming healthcare by creating and financing cutting-edge technological innovations. Come listen to and meet experts in the field. Learn more at http://www.svforum.org/healthtechconf

Big DataMay 23rd, 8:30a – 2:30p
Tata Consultancy Services, Suite 522 (5201 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara)
Big Data refers to the growing data industry sector built around capturing, storing, processing, analytics, and extracting value from massive databases of mixed and often unstructured data. This is data that exceeds the ability of most existing database systems to handle. It is the science around the proverbial needle in the haystack. This meeting will address how service providers can, and can’t, monetize their data. How is big data, the breakout hot topic of 2012, different from the decades-old topic of data mining? More information at http://telecomcouncil.cvent.com/BigData2012

Tech Policy Summit June 6-7, 8:00 – 6:00pm
Silverado Resort (1600 Atlas Peak Road), Napa
The 6th edition of Tech Policy Summit will bring together industry executives, entrepreneurs, investors, consumer advocates, government officials and legal experts to examine critical policy issues affecting technology innovation and adoption in the United States and beyond. The premier tech policy gathering on the West coast, Tech Policy Summit provides an independent, nonpartisan forum for learning and networking. Our mission is to encourage more dialogue so that there is greater accord between what happens in D.C. and what matters to technology leaders and consumers. Sign up today at http://www.techpolicysummit.com to secure your spot! Special early bird pricing is in effect through April 20th.

SVASE SeriesWeekly
SVASE, the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs, is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit association in Northern California dedicated exclusively to helping early stage tech entrepreneurs. They hold events regularly in the peninsula, and occasionally the city itself. There are too many to name in my brief email, but be sure to check them out for advice on investment, team development, financing, corporate leadership, and much more: http://www.svase.org/

Founders Space
Founders Space brings together founders, angels, VCs, advisers, and innovators to help start-ups rock the world. You can ask questions, join a Founders Round Table, tell your story, or become an Adviser. Visit http://FoundersSpace.com